By Mark Vest
C & G Sports Writer

In the last five seasons, Lamphere’s boys golf team has won a combined total of four league and division meet championships in the Macomb Area Conference Silver Division.

After getting the program restarted approximately nine years ago — after it had been dormant since the 1970s, according to coach Art Maisano — it can be argued that contending for league and divisional meet titles is now a standard that has been set for the Rams.

Despite the success they have enjoyed in the past, Maisano doesn’t want to make guarantees about the Rams’ chances of once again finishing near the top of the Silver. Instead, he would rather defer to what he referred to as (former college basketball coach) John Wooden’s coaching philosophy of hard work and preparation helping to determine results.

“Those all take care of itself,” Maisano said of team goals. “We just (want to) get better. If we work hard (and) prepare, all the winning takes care of itself.”

While senior Vince Mandarino may not know exactly where they will land in the standings either, he thinks the opportunity is there for the Rams to contend for a top spot.

“We still have good talent on the team,” he said. “We should be all right.”

Mandarino, Justin Ross and Jesse Carpenter are Lamphere’s three senior representatives, and if the Rams hope to be among the top teams, it may have to be them who lead the way, as the coach referred to his overall squad as a “young” one.

Maisano added that he understands the challenge that awaits in league play.

Warren Woods Tower has won both the league and divisional meet championships in the Silver for the past two seasons, and Maisano thinks the Titans are once again in a position to make things tough on league opponents.

“They’re loaded,” he said. “They got a nice squad. They are the team to beat.”

While the Rams’ underclassmen may experience some struggles along the way, Maisano said he thinks that, in years to come, they will have an opportunity to offer some valuable contributions. And with the assistance of coach George King leading the JV squad, Maisano expressed optimism that the future has the potential to be a good one.

“We have a nice nucleus two years from now, when these guys can become upperclassmen,” he said. “We’re always playing for the future. Even when we’ve done well, we’re trying to build.”

At press time, Lamphere had not played a match.

The Rams are next scheduled to be in action at 3 p.m. April 30 against Sterling Heights at the Maple Lane Golf Club in Sterling Heights.